System for a cookware lid holder

ABSTRACT

A system for a cookware lid holder including a mounting assembly, an arm adjusting assembly and a lid clamping assembly is disclosed. The mounting assembly allows securing of the system to any surface, primarily with the use of a clamp. Once the system is secured it is possible to adjust the positions and angles of the arm adjusting assembly as is most comfortable and suitable for a user. The arm adjusting assembly allows for customization in order to position lids of cooking pots to be held out of the way when storing or when cooking even. The lid clamping assembly permits for lids of predetermined dimensions to be secured and moved about with the arm adjusting assembly. The arm adjusting assembly includes a first and second holding arm that expand outwardly if need be. The lids can be moved freely while being held due to an arm pivot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lid holder and, more particularly, toa lid holder that allows for suspending of cookware lids in midair whilecooking as to allow access to the pots and pans momentarily withoutneeding to find space to place down the cookware lids.

2. Description of the Related Art

Several designs for lid holders have been designed in the past. None ofthem, however, include a wall mounted cooking pot lid holder comprisingan extended bendable, flexible arm with multiple articulating joints anda lid handle clamping device on the distal end wherein the cooking potlid is secured to the holding arm and can be positioned on the cookingpot and moved up out of the way when not in use. People often findthemselves in the kitchen cooking great and delicious meals. Substantialamounts of time are spent in the kitchen as food is obviously essential.When cooking there is often a need to remove the lid from the cookwarein order to add spices to food or in order to let steam out from thecookware for venting. To do so the lid is entirely lifted from thecookware and must be placed down elsewhere, however, in some kitchensthere is a lack of space and it becomes troublesome to find space forthe lids. Other times, the lid needs to be removed only momentarily. Assuch, there is a need for the present invention. The present inventionbeing a mountable cooking pot lid holder that is flexible and capable ofsuspending the cooking lids in midair momentarily or until needed again.Additionally, the present invention is capable of positioning and movingthe cooking pot lid in a variety of ways and positions to preventdripping of liquids from the cooking lid to prevent stove tops fromgetting dirty.

Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No.5,246,195 issued to Daniel C. Huff for Lid Holder. It is lid holderprovided for attachment to a wall to securely hold a pot or pan lid whennot in use. The lid holder comprises a base which is adapted to lieadjacent to the wall when the lid holder is attached to the wall.Included are two support members connected to the base that extendoutward from the base. A retaining member is connected to the base thatextends outwardly from the base. The support members engage and supportthe to surface of the lid and the retaining member engages the interiorlip of the lid to properly secure the lid. There is also a shieldprovided to prevent any wall damage. However, it differs from thepresent invention because the Huff reference is intended only for usewhen the lids of the cookware are being stored. The present inventionsuspends the cooking lids in a variety of ways in midair. It may bepossible for the lids to be suspended either facing upwardly ordownwardly. Further, it may be possible for the present invention to beretrofitted onto a surface in a variety of way. Further, the presentinvention can be used while a user is in the midst of cooking.

Other documents describing the closest subject matter provide for anumber of more or less complicated features that fail to solve theproblem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patentssuggest the novel features of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a cookwarelid holder that is capable of suspending cooking pot lids in midairduring use or during storage.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cookware lid holderthat can hold and secure cooking pot lids at a variety of angles.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide acookware lid holder that can be retrofitted onto existing surfaces.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device thatis inexpensive to implement and maintain while retaining itseffectiveness.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the followingpart of the specification, wherein detailed description is for thepurpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitationsthereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consistsin the details of construction and combination of parts as will be morefully understood from the following description, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents an isometric view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows alternate means by which the present invention can bemounted onto a surface;

FIG. 2A shows another of alternate means by which the present inventioncan be mounted onto a surface;

FIG. 3 illustrates the present invention in an operational setting; and

FIG. 4 is a representation of the present invention in another operationsetting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generallyreferred to with numeral 10, it can be observed that it, a cookware lidholder 10, basically includes a mounting assembly 20, an adjusting armassembly 60, a lid handle clamping assembly 120.

There are is a need to move lids around when cooking in order to addspices and flavoring to the food. In some kitchens space is limited andit becomes a hassle to move lids around as there is barely countertopspace to place the lids thereon. There is a need for means that allowfor holding and storing lids, while cooking or otherwise, that do notuse countertop space. As such there is a need for the present inventionwhich aids is moving, holding and storing of lids of cookware.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, it can be seen that cookware lid holder 10includes several assemblies to achieve functionality. Cookware lidholder 10 includes mounting assembly 20 which aids in securing andmounting the present invention onto a surface. Mounting assembly 20includes a clamp base 24 adapted to be secured onto a flat surface 22such as a table or stove top, for example. Clamp base 24 may preferablybe C shaped, but it should be understood that any other shape may besuitable for clamp base 24. Clamp base 24 include a top end 26 and abottom end 28. Clamp base 24 may include an opening 30 therethrough atbottom end 28. Mounted underneath of top end 26 may be a cushioning pad32 adapted to prevent damage to flat surface 22 once clamp base 24 hasbeen secured onto flat surface 22. Cushioning pad 32 may be of a shapethat cooperates with the shape of top end 26 of clamp base 24. Extendingtherethrough opening 30 may be a threaded fastener 34 which includes asmooth portion 35 having a handle opening 36 extending therethrough.Handle opening 36 may be perpendicular and horizontal to smooth portion35. It should be understood that opening 30 and handle opening 36 may beof a predetermined size to cooperate with components being insertedtherethrough. Therethrough handle opening 36 may be a handle 38extending therethrough. Handle 38 may include a first end 39 have around stopper 40 thereon. Handle 38 may also include a second end 41having a flat stopper 42 thereon. Handle 38 may slidably movetherethrough handle opening 36. Handle 38 is restricted to extend up toround stopper 38 and flat stopper 40. Round stopper 38 and flat stopper40 may preferably be larger than handle opening 36 to prevent handle 38from being entirely removed from handle opening 36. Handle 38 is thenrotated in order to rotate and move threaded fastener 34 up or downtowards top end 26 or bottom end 28, respectively. Threaded fastener 34may include a fastener head 44 which is rigidly circular disk adapted tomake contact with a bottom of flat surface 22 for proper securing ofmounting assembly 20 thereto. Fastener head 44 provides additionalstability to the present invention when mounted to flat surface 22.Mounting assembly 20 may further include a female member 46 mountedadjacent to clamp base 24 at a rear side thereof. Female member 46 mayextend substantially along the height of clamp base 24. Female member 46may be cylindrical shaped and have both a top and bottom side open.Therethrough female member may also be a liner 47 which extends theentire interior length of female member 46 and further protrudespartially from the top side of female member 46. Mounting assembly 20may also include an arm base attachment 48 mounted atop of clamp base24. Arm base attachment 48 will be substantially U shaped. Arm baseattachment 48 may a first side 49 and a second side 50. Each of firstside 49 and second side 50 may include an arm fastener receiving portion52 which may include fastener openings 54 extending horizontallytherethrough. It may be suitable for any number of fastener openings 54to be included in the present invention, however, in the immediateembodiment, two of fastener openings 54 are located thereon and arepositioned diagonally from one another. Extending therefrom arm fastenerreceiving portion 52 may be a hook portion 56 extending outwardly andpreferably diagonally from arm fastener receiving portion 52. Hookportion 56 may include a receiving opening 58. Receiving opening 58 maybe adapted to receive and hold items therein as an anchor. Adjacent toarm fastener receiving portion 52 may be a male member 59. Preferably,male member 59 is mounted to a rear side of arm fastener receivingportion 52. Male member 59 may extend downwardly to be inserted thereinfemale member 46. Male member 59 may rotate freely 360 degrees withinfemale member 46 as per the needs of a user.

The present invention further includes adjusting arm assembly 60.Adjusting arm assembly 60 permits for different positioning of thepresent invention to hold lids as needed by users of the presentinvention. Importantly, the adjusting arm assembly 60 includes a firstset of arms 62. First set of arms 62 being further defined as a firstset arm 64 and a first set second arm 66. First set of arms 62 may beadjacent and parallel to one another. First set of arms 62 is receivedwithin arm base attachment 48. First set of arms 62 may be mounted atopof clamp base 24. First set of arms 62 are secured to arm baseattachment 48 with fasteners 68 inserted therethrough fastener openings54 extending from first side 49 to second side 50. First set arm 64 maybe secured to arm base attachment 52 with fasteners 68 at apredetermined location that may be lower than where first set second arm66 is secured to arm base attachment 52 with fasteners 68. First set arm64 may have spring hooks 70 at predetermined locations on both a rightand left side of first set arm 64. Springs 72 may extend therebetweenreceiving opening 58 of hook portion 56 and spring hooks 70. Springs 72aid in maintaining first set of arms 62 in place properly. First set ofarms 62 may extend upwardly a predetermined length when the presentinvention is not in use. First set of arms 62 may be rectangular shaped,however, it should be understood that it may be suitable for first setof arms 62 to be virtually any other shape, cylindrical, for example, inan alternate embodiment. First set of arms 62 may extend up to a firstarticulating joint 74. First articulating joint 74 may include a firstjoint front side 75 and a first joint rear side 76. First articulatingjoint 74 may include first joint fastener openings 78 adapted to securefirst set of arms 62 thereto first articulating joint 74. Additionally,first articulating joint 74 may secure a second set of arms 80 theretowith fasteners 68 extending therethrough first joint fastener openings78. Second set of arms 80 may include second set arm 82 and a second setsecond arm 84. Second set of arms 80 may be adjacent and parallel to oneanother. Second set of arms 80 may be identical to first set of arms 62.Second set of arms 80 may be substantially perpendicular to first set ofarms 62. Positioning and angle at which first set of arms 62 and secondset of arms 80 may be modified as per the needs of the user. Once thedesired angle and position is reached, the user may use a firsttightening knob 86 to lock in the desired positioning of first set ofarms 62 and second set of arms 80. First tightening knob 86, in theimmediate embodiment, may be mounted onto first joint rear side 76.However, in an alternate embodiment, it may be suitable for firsttightening knob 86 to be mounted onto first joint front side 75. Whilefirst tightening knob 86 is fully tighten then first set of arms 62 andsecond set of arms 80 have limited range of motion. However, firsttightening knob 86 still allows for the present invention to move freelyabout female member 46 to allow for horizontal and rotational movement.It may be suitable for second set of arms 80 to also include springhooks 70 thereon second set arm 82. Second set of arms 80 may extenduntil a second articulating joint 88 is reached. Second articulatingjoint 88 may be adapted to receive and secure arms received therein inthe same manner that first articulating joint 74 does. Secondarticulating joint 88 may include a second joint front side 89 and asecond joint rear side 90. Second articulating joint 88 may includesecond joint fastener openings 92 adapted to secure second set of arms80 thereto second articulating joint 88. Additionally, secondarticulating joint 88 may secure a third set of arms 94 thereto withfasteners 68 extending therethrough second joint fastener openings 92.Third set of arms 94 may include a third set arm 96 and a third setsecond arm 98. Third set of arms 94 may be adjacent and parallel to oneanother. On second joint front side 89 may be a second tightening knob100 adapted to secure and hold third set of arms 94. Third set secondarm 98 may include spring hooks 70 to secure springs 72 thereon. In analternate embodiment it may be suitable for third set arm 96 to includespring hooks 70 instead. Second set of arms 80 and third set of arms 94may be positioned and angled with the assistance of second tighteningknob 100 and springs 72. Third set of arms 94 may extend until a lidclamping assembly 120 is reached more specifically, until a clamp devicearticulating joint 130 is reached. Clamp articulating joint secures lidclamping assembly 120 to third set of arms 94. Lid clamping assembly 120includes a lid handle clamping device 122 having a first holding arm 124and a second holding arm 126 which are secured to an arm pivot 128. Armpivot is secured to clamp device articulating joint 130 with fasteners68. Arm pivot 128 allows for lid handle clamping device 122 to be ableto move and rotate freely a predetermined amount. Arm pivot 128 resultsin endless positions and angles for first holding arm 124 and secondholding arm 126. For example, first holding arm 124 and second holdingarm 126 may be positioned entirely vertically, horizontally, at anobtuse angle or at an acute angle. Lid handle clamping device 122 may beadapted to receive and secure a lid 134 and lid handle of cookware suchas a cooking pot 136 therein. First holding arm 124 and second holdingarm 126 may be expandable and retractable, outwardly, as to permitgrasping of different sized lids 134 of cooking pot 136. Therebyallowing the present invention to function properly despite thedimensions of the cookware lids. Positioning and angle of lid handleclamping device 122 may be secured and fixed, momentarily, with the useof clamp device tightening knob 132. Clamp device tightening knob 132functions just like first tightening knob 86 and second tightening knob100. It should be understood that the present invention may hold morethan one of lid 134. It may be suitable for the present invention toinclude at least one of lid handle clamping device 122 and pertainingcomponents to hold at least one of lid 134 or multiple of lid 134. Itcan be appreciated that the number of lid 134 to be held correspondswith the number of lid handle clamping device 122 in the presentinvention. As such it may be suitable for the present invention toinclude at least one of cooking pot 136. It should be under that ifthere are more than one of cooking pot 136, then there may be more thanone of lid 134 and as such there may be more than one of lid handleclamping device 122 to allow holding of multiple of lid 134.

Once a user U has secured lid 134 of cooking pot 136 into lid clampingassembly 120, the user may position the present invention at angles andpositions that best function with their cooking area such as a stove 138and space. The present invention may be secured onto flat surface 22clamp base 24, however, in an alternate embodiment, alternate means maybe used to secure the present invention in place for use. For example, asuction cup 27 may be used instead of clamp base 24 to secure thepresent invention to flat surface 22. In another alternative embodiment,the present invention may be secured to flat surface 22 such as a wallinstead with a wall bracket 25. The user may move lid 134 freely evenwith a lack of space in the cooking area with the present invention. Theuser may move lid 134 about in an endless amount of positions. With thepresent invention lid 134 can be held and secured when lid 134 is not inuse or when it is but needs to be momentarily moved out of the way. Itshould be understood that the present invention should not be limited byshape, size, dimension, or materials. As any suitable shape, size,material or dimensions may be suitable as per the needs of the user.

The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of theobjectives and advantages of the present invention. Differentembodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. Itis to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for a cookware lid holder, comprising:a. a flat surface; b. a mounting assembly including a clamp base havinga top end, a bottom end and an opening, said flat surface receivedtherebetween said top end and said bottom end, said bottom end includingthe opening extending therethrough to receive a threaded fastenertherethrough, said threaded fastener including a smooth portion at alower portion thereof, said smooth portion including a handle openingextending horizontally therethrough to receive a handle therethrough,said handle including a round stopper at said first end and a flatstopper at said second end, said round stopper and said flat stopperprevent said handle from being removed entirely from said handleopening, said threaded fastener including a fastener head at a distalend thereof, said handle being actuated and rotated therethrough saidopening allows said threaded fastener and said fastener head to movetowards said top end to secure said flat surface therebetween said topend and said fastener head, said clamp base having a female membermounted adjacent thereto on a rear side of said clamp base; c. saidmounting assembly further including an arm base attachment mounted atopof said clamp base, said arm base attachment including a first side anda second side, each of said first and second side including an armfastener receiving portion, said arm fastener receiving portionincluding fastener openings extending horizontally therethrough, saidarm base attachment further including a hook portion extendingdiagonally from said arm fastener receiving portion of each of saidfirst and second side, said hook portion including a receiving openingat a distalmost end thereof, said hook portion securing a lower portionof springs therein, said arm base attachment including a male member ata back end thereof extending downwardly from said arm base attachment,said male member to be received and secured therein said female member;d. an arm adjusting assembly including a first set of arms, said firstset of arms further defined as a first set arm and a first set secondarm, said first set arm and said first set second arm mounted onto a topend of said clamp base, said first set arm and said first set second armreceived therebetween said first and second side of said arm baseattachment and secured with fasteners extending therethrough saidfastener openings from said first side through said each of said firstset arm and said first set second arm and through said second side, oneof said first set of arms may include spring hooks at a left and rightside thereof, said springs may extend from said hook portion to saidspring hooks on both said left and right side thereof for stability tosaid first set of arms, at a distal end of said first set of arms is afirst articulating joint having a first joint front side, a first jointrear side, and first joint fastener openings, said first set of arms anda second set of arms are secured therebetween said first joint frontside and said first joint rear side with said fasteners extendingtherethrough said first joint fastener openings, said second set of armsfurther defined as a second arm and a second set second arm extendingfrom said first articulating joint to a second articulating joint, saidfirst set of arms and said second set of arms secured into a desiredposition with a first tightening knob mounted thereon said firstarticulating joint, said first tightening knob being tightened toachieve said desired position, said second articulating joint having asecond joint first side and a second joint second side, said second setof arms and a third set of arms being secured therebetween said secondjoint first side and a second joint second side with said fastenersextending therethrough second joint fastener openings of said secondarticulating joint, said third set of arms further defined as a thirdset arm and a third set second arm, one of said third set of armsincluding said spring hooks for extending one of said springs from saidspring hooks on one of said third set of arms to a clamp devicearticulating joint, said positioned by a second tightening knob toachieve said desired position of said third set of arms, third set ofarms extending therebetween said second articulating joint and saidclamp device articulating joint said third set of arms secured with saidfasteners to said clamp device articulating joint; e. a lid clampassembly including at least one lid handle clamping device including afirst holding arm and a second holding arm, said at least one lid handleclamping device being mounted to an arm pivot, said arm pivot mounted tosaid clamp device articulating joint, said arm pivot allow rotation andmovement of said at least one lid handle clamping device, said lidclamping assembly further including a clamp device tighten knob mountedthereon said clamp device articulating joint to position said arm pivotand said at least one lid handle clamping device in a fixed position; f.a stove having at least one cooking pot including at least one lid; andg. said at least one lid being received and secured within said at leastone lid handle clamping device for free movement of each of said at lestleast one lid away and above from said at least one cooking pot to allowa user more space when cooking without needing to place said at leastone lid on said flat surface, said user can position said cookware lidholder as best suits said user's needs while cooking.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said top end has a cushioning pad mounted entirelyunderneath to prevent damage to said flat surface being securedtherebetween said clamp base.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein saidfemale member includes a liner extending therethrough for securing saidmale member therein.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first set ofarms are adjacent and parallel to each other.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein said second set of arms are adjacent and parallel to each other.6. The system of claim 1, wherein said third set of arms are adjacentand parallel to each other.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said firstset of arms extend substantially vertically.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein said cookware lid holder is secured to said flat surface with asuction cup.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein said cookware lid holderis secured to a flat surface such as a wall with a wall bracket.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said arm pivot allows for 360-degree movementof said lid handle clamping device.
 11. The system of claim 1, whereinsaid lid is held by said lid handle clamping device when said lid isbeing stored.